The Man in the Arena

Let’s face it … None of us have a straight and smooth path through life. We all have our ups and downs. Our highs and lows. And gratefully so! The valleys are were we find the valuable growth opportunities and make contact with who we really are. They also enable us to truly appreciate the peaks once we have reached them.

When lost and struggling in some new gloomy place, I have found that sayings and quotes help me stay attached to my inner strength and continue forward with motivation.

One of my favorites is known as the "Man in the Arena". It was part of a speech delivered in 1910 by Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne in Paris. Here is the key excerpt from that speech:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

The main take aways from this for me are:

• There is value to be found in taking action, embracing challenge and persevering even in the face of criticism.?
• Mistakes and setbacks are inevitable in any worthwhile endeavor. It requires courage to face challenges and pursue noble goals despite the potential for failure.?
• It celebrates those who actively engage in the arena of life, recognizing the difficulty of their journey and acknowledging their determination.
• It casts scorn on those who criticize others but do not participate themselves. For them, a shameful and hollow existence awaits.

What are your “Go To Quotes” for inspiration?